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ARTEFACT: 1000 Pleasant Street, Belmont, 617-993-3347, artefacthome.com
Opening a home design store in a circa 1930 Dodge dealership might seem an unlikely undertaking for aesthetes with visions of raw linen upholstery, gilt-framed mirrors, and Peruvian ceramics. But design-minded sisters Maureen and Sue Walsh’s pairing at their shop, Artefact, is sublime. Off the beaten path among motor-related businesses and plenty of trees, the large space with 18-foot ceilings has the feel of a mid-century loft in a suburban landscape. Clusters of gorgeous lighting suspended above perfectly simple sofas and rough-hewn wood tables set with silver serving pieces present a subtle tableau for sophisticated homeowners who eschew the fussy and fancy.

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If you hit it right, you just might snag a gently priced Chanel or Cesare Paciotti bag, a sexy DVF cocktail dress, or a 1960s fox-trim coat at Ensemble. Look, too, for dainty leather gloves and nylon knee-highs in daring prints.

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NEW BALANCE: 583 Boylston Street, Boston, 617-266-1583, newbalance.com
Maybe it’s no Niketown, but this is also not your father’s New Balance. In recent years, the brand has developed street cred with a constant flow of exclusive one-and-done collections, as well as mod color combos in its running and lifestyle classics. (They’re hip enough for Barneys.)

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VIRA: 107 Charles Street, Boston, 617-367-0305, facebook.com/viraboutique
Longtime friends Radhika Rana and Vivek Patel have made great use of their Fashion Institute of Technology educations, filling their Charles Street boutique Vira with many new-to-the-area women’s international lines from France, Denmark, Australia, and Singapore. The taste level is high, but the prices reasonable for what you get: luxurious fabrics, bold trim, and dramatic silhouettes. Statement-making exotic jewelry is also plentiful.